Hotel Riu Palace Bavaro vs Sandals Royal Barbados
Riu Hotels & Resorts vs Sandals Resorts — Side-by-side resort comparison
Key Metrics
| Metric | Hotel Riu Palace Bavaro | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Our Rating | 6.7 | 8.2 |
| Star Rating | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Room Count | 382 | 222 |
| Restaurants | 8 | 21 |
| Pools | 11 | 11 |
| Year Opened | — | 2017 |
| Year Renovated | 2024 | 2021 |
Features
| Metric | Hotel Riu Palace Bavaro | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| All-Inclusive | Yes | Yes |
| Adults Only | No | Yes |
| Beach Access | Yes | Yes |
| Spa | Yes | Yes |
| Kids Club | Yes | No |
Dining Comparison
| Metric | Hotel Riu Palace Bavaro | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Total Venues | 23 | 26 |
| Included | 22 | 26 |
| Extra Charge | 1 | 0 |
Room Comparison
| Metric | Hotel Riu Palace Bavaro | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Room Categories | 10 | 12 |
| Suite Categories | 9 | 12 |
Activities Comparison
| Metric | Hotel Riu Palace Bavaro | Sandals Royal Barbados |
|---|---|---|
| Total Activities | 20 | 24 |
| Included | 17 | 18 |
| Extra Charge | 3 | 6 |
Pros & Cons
Hotel Riu Palace Bavaro
Pros
- August 2024 renovation brings genuinely new rooms, pools, and public spaces — no pre-renovation fatigue.
- 32 dining venues is the most comprehensive F&B program in any Riu Caribbean property.
- 11 pools including Elite Club private pool options provide genuine choice at scale.
- Complimentary Splash Water World access is included without requiring extra booking.
- RiuLand kids' club with cinema and cooking classes is among the better children's programs in Punta Cana.
Cons
- 994 rooms means peak-hour congestion at the main buffet — specialty restaurants absorb some of this but require reservations.
- Scale can feel overwhelming — the resort is large enough that navigating between venues requires planning.
- Post-renovation 2024 means early guest reviews still forming; service consistency is not yet fully established.
Sandals Royal Barbados
Pros
- The rooftop infinity pool is the Caribbean's first — an evening pool experience with ocean views that's unavailable at other Sandals properties
- All-suite property means no standard rooms — every guest has suite-level accommodations
- 'Stay at One, Play at Two' with adjacent Sandals Barbados effectively doubles dining to 20+ restaurants and 10+ bars
- 15-minute transfer from Grantley Adams International Airport — one of the shortest Sandals arrivals in the Caribbean
- Lovers Lanes bowling alley and craft beer bar are genuine novelties within the all-inclusive format
Cons
- Maxwell Beach is a public beach — other hotel guests and persistent local vendors are present and regularly cited by guests
- Lounge chair competition is consistent: early morning positioning is required for both the main pool and beachfront spots
- Service at restaurants and bars is noted as slower than expected given the pricing — allow extra time for meals
- The scale of the combined Royal Barbados and Sandals Barbados property means it's a larger, more crowded operation than quieter Sandals resorts
Summary
Sandals Royal Barbados has a higher guest rating, while Sandals Royal Barbados has more restaurants, while Hotel Riu Palace Bavaro is the larger property, while Sandals Royal Barbados has more dining venues, while Sandals Royal Barbados offers more activities.